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Leafs Launch Leafs@School

by
Staff Writer
/ Toronto Maple Leafs

(October 25, 2005) -- Toronto Maple Leafs players Mats Sundin and Alex Steen visited Kimberley Public School Tuesday to launch the new 2005-06 season's TD Waterhouse Leafs @ School program. Leafs @ School, a popular web-based education program geared to students in grades 4 to 6, is aimed at making learning fun by using hockey in relation to core school subjects.

This year's program incorporates three key lesson plans - Math with Mats Sundin, Language with Eric Lindros and Nutrition with Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle. Also new this year is the Leafs @ School Fitness Challenge, a fitness component that promotes good health and physical activity.

"Leafs @ School is one of our more popular education-focused programs with both students and teachers. The link to hockey makes learning fun and easy for the kids participating in the program," said John Lashway, senior vice-president of communications and community development at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "The Leafs are proud to work with TD Waterhouse and to support education initiatives with programs like Leafs @ School, which play a valuable role in promoting the benefits of getting an education and inspiring children to stay in school."

In its sixth year existence Leafs @ School has become a key teaching instrument for educators because it aligns with the current Ontario school curriculum. During the 2003-04 season more than 65,000 Greater Toronto Area (GTA) students were enrolled in the program.

In previous years the Leafs @ School curriculum included "A Day in the Life of Mats Sundin," which incorporated aspects of the Leafs captain's daily life into subjects such as math, writing and reading. Other units have included the 1967 Leafs Stanley Cup team and Leafs Alumni Darryl Sittler's 10-point night.

To promote Leafs @ School, Leafs players will visit schools across the GTA each month throughout the hockey season.

Leafs @ School is an initiative of Leafs Community Relations which brings pride to the community by providing effective educational programs for youth and creates fans for life.